Emergency crews have now been dispatched to the remote Santa Cruz Islands in the far east of Solomon Islands after a tsunami was generated yesterday by a 8.0 magnitude earthquake.
It has been confirmed that few villages with more than a hundred houses were destroyed and at least seven people have died with many still remain missing. These were the confirmed reports received so far:
Mbimbe village; 1 child missing, Nea village; 200 houses destroyed, 1 injured, Bania village; 10 houses destroyed, Manoputi village; 20 houses destroyed, Venga village; 100 houses destroyed, 2 casualties, Nela village; 30 houses destroyed, 2 casualties, Malo village; Luava village; 16 houses destroyed, 1 casualty, Lata terminal; parts of terminal dammaged and runway blocked by debris.
The full extent of the damage however is yet to be assessed with debris and high water levels cutting off access to some areas.
The National Disaster Council held meetings until midnight last night to work on ways forward to support the stricken areas.
Reports have been received that a donor meeting will also be held in Honiara today to look at ways it can provide support to the national government.